Hyperpyrexator



G H. CLARK Er AL 2,012,221

HYPERPYREXATOR Filed Aug. 30, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l ur 11111 ,..Iunhwvid lll:

Aug. 20, 1935.

Aug. 2o, 1935.

G. H. CLARK ET AL HYPERPYREXATOR Filed Aug. 30, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Aug. zo, 1935 PATENT OFFICE HYPERPYREXATOR Gordon Clark,Pottstown, and Warren F. Clark, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application August 30, 1932, Serial No. 631,082

4 Claims.

This invention relates to treatment apparatus and more particularly toapparatus for treating -the human body by the application of heat. Manyailments of the human body respond to 5 heat treatment, and it hasheretofore been proposed to take advantage of this fact by applying heatto a patients body in various ways. The principal object of the presentinvention is to provide a novel device or apparatus for accuratelyproducing any desired degree of fever heat in the human body without thesensation of heat and in a manner which is entirely safe to the patient.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus of thisnature wherein the heatgenerating means is at all times controlleddirectly by the body temperature of the patient.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus whereinthe heat treatment of 20-the patients body is carried out in successive26 .of the patient.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a treatment devicein the form of a cabinet adapted to receive the patients body inrecumbent position and embodying novel features of construction whichenhance the operation of the device and enable the attainment of thedesired end.

A preferred form of the construction of the apparatus is illustrated onthe accompanying drawings to which reference may be had in connectionwith the following detailed description.

In the drawings:

Fig. i is a side elevational view of the device with a patient therein;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device from the left end thereof asillustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device looking at the same from the rightend;

Fig. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram, illustrating the electricalcircuits of the device; and

Fig. 5 is a schematic detail view of the body temperature controlmechanism which constitutes an important feature of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings for a clear understanding ofthe mechanical construction of the device, the cabinet is designated Iand is preferably formed of a ply wood body 2 having a metal lining Itherein and arranged so as to provide dead air space 4 between the bodyand the lining. Experience has shown that "dead air" offers the mostsanitary and effective means of heat insulation, particularly when usedin a body treatment device, such as that herein disclosed. The dead airspace I then serves to 00 insulate the heated interior to prevent heattransmission to the outer air and thus render the device more efficient.

The lower part of lining 3 is preferably substantially V shaped asillustrated for a purpose which will appear more clearly hereinafter. Aheating unit 5 is disposed centrally of the cabinet adjacent the lowerapex of lining 3 and extends longitudinally of the cabinet substantiallythe full length thereof. Immediately above the heating unit, there isdisposed a vaporizing pan 6 which is coextensive with a portion of theheating unit, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 1. This pan is filled withwater during each treatment and the proper amount of vapor is thusdeveloped so that the treatment is given in a saturated atmosphere. AV-shaped metallic heat deflector 1 is positioned above the lower V-shaped portion of lining 3 and conforms generally in shape with suchportion. The deilector runs longitudinally of the cabinet substantiallythe length of the lining 3. A horizontally disposed board 8, which isadapted to support stretcher 9, constitutes with reflector 1 a charnberwhich` houses the dead air space II). This dead air space insulates theboard 8 from the direct heating effect of the heating unit and thusavoids any discomfort or danger to the patient. It will now be notedthat heat deflector 1 and the lower part of lining 3 define passagesfrom the heating unit to the upper cabinet space above the patient andare adapted to direct. reflect, and deflect the heat and heated aircurrents from the heating unit to the upper part of the cabinet.

Stretcher 9 is, of course, adapted to support the patient, shown at II,within the cabinet in a recumbent position. The stretcher is slidablysupported by board 8 and to this end suitable brackets I2 are attachedto the board and serve as retaining guides for the stretcher. When fullypositioned within the cabinet, one end of the stretcher extends outsidethe cabinet, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 1, and the patient is sopositioned that his head is positioned outside the cabinet asillustrated. The end of the cabinet has an opening I3 therein which issufficiently large to permit the removal of the patient, aftertreatment, on the stretcher. During treatment, the opening I3 is closedby a suitable rubber curtain Il which has an opening I6 therein thatconforms generally in shape with the patient's neck and ts thereabout.

The cabinet has a hinged cover I6 which may be opened and maintained inopened condition by suitable props II, this cover being shown in openposition in the broken-line illustration of Fig. 3. Thus the interior ofthe cabinet is easily accessible for any purpose. In order to facilitateraising of the cover whenv desired, recessed handles I8are provided.There is also provided in the cover a Window I9 having a slidableclosure member 28 which may be used either as a ventilator or forobservation purposes. When a patient has reached fever temperature, thewindow may be opened to allow the fever to recede if desired.

The cabinet cover extends longitudinally over the greater part of thelength of the cabinet, and adjacent the cover there is provided astationary panel 2i which Serves to support switches 22, pilot lights 23and a mercury contact thermometer 24. These elements will be more fullydiscussed in connection with the wiring diagram. The thermometer isshown more clearly in Fig. 2 and it will be noted that it extends intothe cabinet so as to be responsive to the air therein. The lining 3 isformed so as to provide an enclosure 25 for the electrical elementsincluding those supported by panel 2i. There is also provided aperforated enclosure 26 which serves to house and protect a flood light21, which is adapted to illuminate the interior of the cabinet. Atemperature-recording instrument 28 is supported at this end of thecabinet and is adapted to record the body temperature of the patient andto control the heat treatment, as will be more fully explainedhereinafter. A suitable receptacle 29 is adapted to receive anelectrical connection 30 leading too a suitable source of alternating orDC current. Receptacle 29 is electrically connected to receptacle 3| andthe latter receptacle is adapted for connection to a receptacle 32 by aremovable conductor cord 33. Receptacle 32 is connected to the heatingunit and it will be apparent that electrical energy from the source istransmitted via the conductors and receptacles to the unit. The reasonfor providing this arrangement is to enable shipment of the device inseveral parts.

Referring now to the diagram of Fig. 4, the supply line 38, which, asstated above, may be connected to any suitable alternating or DC currentsource such as the usual 110 volt, 60 cycle commercial source, has adouble pole line switch 35 connected therein which is adapted tointerrupt the flow of current at any time. Connected across the supplyline on the load side oi' switch 35, by means of conductors 36, is apilot light 31, which is one of the pliot lights above mentioned anddesignated generally by reference character 23. This pilot lightindicates, of course, whether or not the apparatus is energized at anyparticular time. A manually operable switch 38 is connected in one ofconductors 36. The interior flood light 21 mentioned above, is connectedacross conductors 36 by conductors 39. When switches 35 and 38 areclosed, light 21 will, of course, be energized and will serve itsintended purpose. The supply lines 38 are connected to relays 40 and48a. Relay 40 comprises a magnetic core 42 having windings i 43 and 44wound thereon. 'I'hese windings are preferably wound in superposedrelation, although for clarity of illustration, they are shown herein asbeing wound about different parts of v core 42. The windings constitutea transformer, winding 43 acting as the primary and winding 42 as thesecondary. Winding 43 is serially connected with a condenser 45 acrosssupply lines 30. The relay also comprises a hinged or pivotal armature46 which is adapted to engage and make electrical contact with astationary contact 41. Windings 43 and 44 are designed so as toconstitute a step-down" transformer, that is, the ratio oi.' primaryturns to secondary turns is such as to give a substantial reductionin/voltage.

The reason for this will appear more clearly hereinafter. Winding 43 andcondenser 45 are so designed as to have equal reactance values, so thatthese elements constitute a resonant circuit. As is well known, in aseries resonant circuit, the current flow is a maximum and the design ofthe relay is such that for maximum current ow through the primarywinding with the secondary winding open-circuited, the relay will beenergized and the armature 46 will make contact at Contact 41.

The secondary winding 44 is connected, via conductors 48, to a bodycontrol switch 49 which forms a part of the body temperature-recordinginstrument. For the immediate present, it suffices to state that switch49 is controlled in direct accordance with the body temperature of thepatient and this switch is normally open so as to open-circuit thesecondary winding but closes when a predetermined body temperature isreached to short-circuit the secondary winding. When this occurs,current flows in the secondary circuit and the mutual inductance effectbetween windings 43 and 44 causes a variation in the inductive reactancein winding 43 to disturb the resonant condition above mentioned. At suchtime, the current flow through the primary winding is materially reducedand is insufiicient to maintain the relay energized. Armature 46,accordingly, opens the line circuit at contact 41.

If the secondary winding is wound in the same sense or direction as theprimary winding, as illustrated, the magnetic flux set up by thesecondary current will aid the primary flux and tend to maintain therelay energized. In practice, however, the ampere turns, and thereforethe flux, of the secondary is of such value as to prevent this tendencyoi. the secondary flux from interfering with the operation. I1 desired,the secondary winding may be wound in the opposite sense or directionand the secondary flux would then oppose the primary ux and would nottend to maintain the relay energized but rather would assist indeenergizing it.

Relay 40a is designed similarly to relay 40 and comprises a similarmagnetic core 42a, a similar primary winding 43a and @a similarsecondary winding 44a. The primary winding 43a of this relay is alsoconnected serially with a condenser 45a, similar to condenser 45, acrossthe line. To this end, the upper extremity of winding 43 is connected,via conductor 50, to one of lines 30 at the pivotal point of armature46. Relay 4I also comprises a hinged or pivotal armature 48a, which,however, is adapted for cooperation with stationary contacts I, 52 and53. Contact 5| is arranged so as to be engaged by a contact segment 54`carried by armature 46a when the armature is in its raised or uppermostposition. Contact 52 is similarly arranged and adapted for engagement bycontact segment 56 when the armature raises. Contact 53 is disposedbeneath the armature and arranged for engagement by contact segment 51when the armature is in its lowermost position. Contact segments 56 and51 are integral or electrically connected together and are insulatedfrom contact segment 54 by the central insulating portion 58 of thearmature. This portion carries a magnetic segment 59 which is attractedby core 42a;4 Contact segment 54 is mounted upon and electricallyconnected to the metallic end 60 of the armature. The stationary contact53 is connected, via conductor 6|, to one of lines 30 atlthe pivotalpoint of the armature.

Contacts 5i and 52, as well as contact segments perature.

is also resonant when the secondary winding is open-circuited, is at alltimes connected across the supply lines 36. Relay 46a is thus adapted tooperate in the same manner as relay 46. When the secondary winding 44ais open-circuited, the resonant condition exists and the relay isenergized. When, however, the secondary circuit is short-circuited, theresonant condition is disturbed and the current through the primarywinding is so reduced as to deenergize the relay.

Secondary winding 44a isconnected, via conductors 63, to the contactthermometer 24, previously mentioned. Thermometer 24 4comprises contactswhich are engageable by the mercury to provide thermostatic switches 64and 65.

Switch 64 'is adapted to operate at a predetermined temperature,preferably 130 F., while switch 65 is adapted to operatev at a higherpredetermined temperature, preferably 160 F. In other words,theseswitches remain open so long as the temperature of the air in thecabinet is below their predetermined temperatures at which they aredesigned to close. Thermostatic switch 64 is serially connected withsecondary winding 44a and with a manually operable switch 66.

Thermostatic switch 65 is shunted about switch 66, as illustrated. Whenswitch 66 is closed, thermostatic switch 64 is rendered effective andwill function to short-circuit the secondary winding 44a at theabove-mentioned predetermined temperature. If switch 66 is opened,however, thermostatic switch 64 is rendered inoperative to short-circuitthe secondary winding but it will, nevertheless, close at itspredetermined tem- When thepredetermined temperature of switch 65 isreached, viz., 160 F. in the preferred example, the switch will closeand cause the short-circuiting circuit to deenergize relay 46a in themanner above specied.

The heating unit 5, hereinbefore mentioned, comprises two heatingelements 61 and 68, which are each preferably of 1000 watt capacity. Oneend of each o1' these units-is connected together and to a commonconductor 69 at 16. The other extremity of element 61 is connected tocontact 62 of relay 46a via conductor 1|. The other extremity of heatingelement 66 is connected to contact segments 56 and 51 carried byarmature 46a via conductor 12. The common connecting point 16 isconnected to contact 5I of relay 4l via conductor 13. It will be notedthat with relay 46 energized so as to close the line circuit, theheating elements 61 and 66 will be connected either in parallel orseries relation depending upon the conditionof relay 46a. Normally, thesecondary winding of this relay is open-circuited and the relay is,therefore, energized in the manner above explained, its armature 46acontacting the upper contacts 5| and 52. At such time, the heatingelements will be connected in parallel relation through a circuitwhichmay be traced as followsz-From the lower line 36, to the connectingpoint 62 and from thence through a parallel branch including conductor5I and heating element 61 to the common point 16 and also throughanother parallel branch including contact 52, contact segment 56,conductor 62 and heating element 66 to the common point 16. From point16, the circuit proceeds through .the common conductor 13, contact5|.,-contact segment 54 and the upper line 36. A visual indication ofthe parallel connection of the heating elements will be given by pilotlight 14 which is connected between conductor 12 and the upper line 30.As will be apparent from inspection, this pilot light is connectedacross the line in parallel with the heating elements and, therefore,receives a portion of the incoming energy.

If, however, relay 46a becomes deenergized, its

armature 46a dropping andfengaging contact 5I, then the heating elementswill be connected in series through a circuit which may be traced asfollowsz-From the lower line 36 to connecting point 62 and from thencethrough conductor 1I, heating element 61, heating element 66, conductor12, contact segments 56 and 51, conductor 6i, to the upper line 36. Itwill be observed that at this time, the common conductor 13 isopencircuited at contact 5I. A visual indication of the seriesconnection of the heating elements will be given by pilot 15 which isconnected between conductor 1I and conductor 12, as illustrated. It willbe apparent from inspection that this pilot light is connected acrossthe line ln parallel with the heating elements when they are connectedin series. It is to be noted that when the heating elements areconnected in parallel relation, the total connected load is 2000 watts,while, when the heating elements are connected in series relation, thetotal load is 500 watts. In other words, when relay 40a operates ateither of the predetermined temperatures above mentioned as governed bythermostatic switch 24, the load is materially reduced and the heatingaction is likewise reduced.

Referring now to Fig. 5 for a clear understanding of the bodytemperature-recording device 28, hereinbefore mentioned, such devicecomprises a rotatable cylindrical chart 16 and a pen 11 associatedtherewith and adapted to write. or inscribe upon the chart. Attached tothe pen is an electric Bourdon tube 16 which is connected to a bulb 19by a small bored capillary tube 66. Bulb 19 is adapted to be applied tothe patient's body in a manner to respond to the axilla, rectal, ormouth temperature of the patient, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 1.The bulb, capillary tube and Bourdon tube are lled with a suitableliquid which expands or contracts under change in temperature. Anychange in the body temperature of the patient will cause an expansion orcontraction of the Bourdon tube to move the pen 11 upward or downward.The pen is stationary horizontally and is adapted for vertical movementunder the influence of the Bourdon tube.

A contact 6I is carried by the pen and a movable-contact 62 isadjustable vertically. A vertical support 63 may carry both pen 1.1 andcontact 62, the latter being adjustable along the support. Contacts 6Iand 62 constitute the body temperature control switch 46, hereinbeforementioned and these contacts are, of course, connected in circuit withthe secondary winding 44 of relay 46. Contact 62 may be adjusted to anyposition corresponding to a predetermined temperature at which it isdesired that the switch operate to short-circuit the secondary winding44 and deenergize relay 46 in the manner previously explained. Withcontact 62 adjusted in a desired position, it will be apparent that ifthe body temperature of the patient rises suillciently to cause the pen11 to move upwardly a sumcient distance to cause engagement o! contact62 by contact Gli, relay @il will be deenergized and the supply lineopened.

Considering now the operation of the device as a whole and referringgenerally to the various views of the drawings and particularly to Figs.i and 5, iet it be assumed that a patient has been properly placedwithin the cabinet and that the line switch hw been closed to energizethe heating unit. Let us also assume that switch has been closed andthat contact i2 has been adjusted to the desired position. Relaysdil-and fiile are now energized, as explained above, and the supply lineis, therefore, closed and the heating elements @il and 58 are connectedin parallel. Under such conditions, the heating of the'patients bodywill be relatively rapid until the temperature of the air within thecabinet has reached 130 F. or the value at which switch 64 `is adaptedto operate. At such time, this switch will close and causedeenergization of relay 40a in the manner previously explained. Thiswill connect the heating elements in series relation and reduce the loadas above described. The heating effect is now materially reduced and theheating of the patients body continues relatively slowly. When thetemperature for which contact 82 has been adjusted is reached, the bodycontrol switch 49 will close as above explained and will causedeenergization of relay 40 to open the supply line. Thus the apparatusis shut off when the exact body temperature which it is desired toattain has been reached. Should the patients temperature dropmaterially, the body control switch 49 will open and causedeenergization of relay 40. 'I'his will cause reenergization of theheating elements in the manner above described. It will be apparent thenthat the apparatus operates automatically in either direction andfunctions to maintainthe desired body temperature.

The specific purpose of providing the selective switches 64 and 65 is topermit latitude in the treatment of various individuals. By the prov.-

sion of this feature, the operation of relay 40a may be varied inaccordance with the physical characteristics of the patient. The heatingis accomplished in two continuous and successive steps and it ispossible by virtue of switches 64 and 65 to govern the relative lengthsof the two heating periods.

It is very important to note that by utilizing relays 4U and 40a of thedesign speoied herein, a low voltage circuit is used in each instance tocontrol the device in accordance with the body and air temperatures.This is an important feature since it eliminates entirely any hazard ordanger to the patient due to the presence of high voltage. The relaysare mounted within enclosure 25 and therefore are isolated from thepatient.

From theforegoing description, it will be evident to persons skilled inthe art that the present apparatus enables the obtaining of any desireddegree of fever heat in a patient's body accurately, safely andv withoutdiscomfort to the patient. The device is at all times under directcontrol of the body temperature of the patient and, therefore, excessiveheat cannot be applied nor can insuicient heat tor give the desired bodytemperature be applied. While a single preferred embodiment oftheapparatus has been disclosed herein for the purpose of illustration,

various changes and modiiications of course, be made without departing:from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

l. Treatment apparatus comprising a cabinet, a stretcher slidable intoand out of said cabinet for supporting a patient in a recinnbentposition within said cabinet, a supporting member for said stretcher, aheating unit extending longitudinally oi said cabinet and disposedcentrally below said supporting means, a vaporizing pan above said unit,a heat deflector below said supporting member and forming therewith adead air chamber, and a reflector below said heat deector and formingtherewith passages for directing the heat and heated air currents fromsaid unit into the space above the patient.

2. Treatment apparatus comprising a cabinet, means for supporting apatient in a recumbent position within said cabinet, a heat deilectorbelow said supporting means and forming therewith a dead air chamber, aheating unit below said heat deflector, and a reiiector below said heatdeilector and forming therewith passages for directing the heat andheated air currents from said unit into the space above the patient.

3. Apparatus for producing and accurately controlling fever heat in thehuman body, comprising a cabinet adapted to receive a patient to betreated, means for raising the temperature of the patients body at arelatively rapid rate under control of the air temperature within thecabinet until a predetermined temperature of the air is reached, so asto initially heat the patients body at a rapid rate to a predeterminedtemperature less than the fever heat desired, and means for thereafterraising the temperature of the patients body at a relatively slow rateunder control of the body temperature itself until the desired fevertemperature is produced in the body, said last means being adapted tomaintain the said fever temperature accurately throughout the treatment.f 4. Apparatus for producing and accurately controlling fever heat inthe human body, comprising a cabinet adapted to receive a patient to Ibetreated, a pair of electrical heating elements for raising thetemperature of the patients body, means normally connecting said heatingelements in parallel relation across an electrical supply line, so as toinitially heat the patlents body at a relatively rapid rate, means forcontrolling the said initial heating under the inuence of the airtemperature within the cabinet, means actuatable by said last means toconnect said heating elements in series relation across the supply linewhen a predetermined temperature of the air is reached, so as tointerrupt the rapid initial heating at a predetermined temperature ofthe body less than the fever heat desired and continue the heating at arelatively slow rate, means for controlling the slow heating underinfluence of the body temperature itself, and means actuatable by saidlast means to decnergize said heating elements when the desired fevertemperature is produced in the body and to successively reenergize theheating elements to maintain the desired fever temperature throughoutthe treatment.

GORDON H. CLARK.

WARREN F. CLARK.

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